Mechanic skill control system

ABSTRACT

A mechanic skill managing system includes a first database storing an average operation time for every kind of check/repair, the average operation time being a time required for an average mechanic with an average skill to complete the check/repair, and a second database storing a skill value indicative of skill of a mechanic, both of which are connected to a processor. The processor calculates the skill value of the mechanic based on a difference or a ratio between the average operation time stored in the first database and an actual operation time spent by the mechanic to actually complete the check/repair, and registers the skill value in the second database. Thus, the skill of the mechanic can be grasped accurately and can be applied to various operations.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a system for managing skill of amechanic, and more particularly to a technique for managing skill of amechanic who is engaged in check and repair (hereafter, the check andrepair may be merely referred to as a “Check” in this specification).

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, a check of a vehicle has been carried out in amaintenance shop by request of a user. In this case, in the maintenanceshop, a total man-hour is calculated by adding up respective man-hoursin a plurality of check items defined for each kind of the check. Here,the man-hour means a work amount carried out by one worker in a unittime when a work load is represented by using time as a unit. Then, anoperation is carried out by referring to a maintenance schedulecontrolled in the maintenance shop, assigning a day and an hour for therequested check on which the total man-hour can be accomplished, andcarrying out the maintenance.

As such a technique, for example, Japanese Laid Open Patent Application(JP-P2000-20581A) discloses a “System for Managing Vehicle Storage forMaintenance”. In this system, a client enters desired maintenancecontents and desired storage terms by using a terminal. In response tothis procedure, a host computer calculates a period necessary for themaintenance on the basis of the desired maintenance contents, and thensearches a storing/retrieving management table stored in a memoryapparatus of the host computer for an available period for themaintenance on the basis of the desired storage terms of the client.Then, an optimal date in this period for the storage is automaticallydetermined and displayed on the terminal. In response to a confirmationof the client through the terminal, the optimal date of storage and adate of retrieval determined from the date of storage are automaticallyregistered in the storing/retrieving management table, and so a storagereservation is made. Thus, clients can register the storage bythemselves.

When the check of the vehicle is requested as mentioned above, theman-hour is calculated on the basis of a standard man-hour. Thisstandard man-hour is pre-determined by averaging experience andperformance of a plurality of mechanics. Therefore, a time necessary forthe check varies widely from a mechanic with a high skill and a mechanicwithout that high skill. Incidentally, in recent years, the request forthe check of the vehicle is made in various ways. For example, there aremany clients in recent years who want the check to be completed in ashort time such as 0.5 hours or one hour on their way to offices.

However, conventionally, the time necessary for the requested check hasbeen calculated on the basis of the standard man-hour, and whether therequested check can be accepted or not is determined on the basis of thecalculated time. Hence, the requested check is sometimes determined tobe unacceptable even when a mechanic with the high skill can completethe requested check within the time to meet the client's requirement. Itis therefore desired to develop a system in which the skill of themechanics can be grasped accurately and a proper mechanic can beassigned to the requested check so that the requested check is completedwithin the appointed date according to the user's requirement.

The present invention is proposed in order to cope with theabove-mentioned request. The object is to provide a mechanic skillmanaging system, in which skill of a mechanic can be grasped accuratelyand can be applied to various operations.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The means for achieving the object will be described below usingreference numerals and symbols used in “Best Mode for Carrying Out theInvention”. These reference numerals and symbols are added so thatrelation between the description of “claims” and the description of“Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention” is made clear. Therefore, itis never permitted to use the reference numerals and symbols for theinterpretation of technical scopes of the inventions described in“claims”.

In order to attain above object, a mechanic skill managing systemincludes a first database (11) for storing an average operation time forevery kind of check/repair, the average operation time being a timerequired for an average mechanic having an average skill to complete thecheck/repair, a second database (12) for storing a skill valueindicative of skill of a mechanic, and a processor (10) for calculatingthe skill value of the mechanic based on a difference or a ratio betweenthe average operation time stored in the first database (11) and anactual operation time spent by the mechanic to actually complete thecheck/repair, and for registering the skill value in the second database(12).

In this mechanic skill managing system, each of the average operationtime and the actual operation time mentioned above means a timenecessary for completing a check and a repair to the extent that apredetermined quality standard for the check and the repair is cleared.

According to this mechanic skill managing system, the skill of themechanic can be accurately grasped, because the skill value of themechanic is calculated on the basis of the difference or the ratiobetween the average operation time and the actual operation time spentby the mechanic to actually complete the check/repair, and thecalculated skill value is registered in the second database (12). As aresult, for example, a control of equalizing the mechanics betweenaffiliated dealers can be attained.

In this mechanic skill managing system, the average operation timestored in the first database (11) is calculated by averaging a pluralityof times spent by a plurality of mechanics to actually complete thecheck/repair, except a peculiar time. According to this configuration,it is possible to objectively suppose the mechanic with the averageskill.

Also, in this mechanic skill managing system, the second database (12)further includes information indicative of history of trainingattendances and years of experience, and the skill value of the mechanicis calculated in the processor (10) on the basis of the difference orthe ratio, and the information indicative of the history of trainingattendances and the years of experience stored in the second database(12). According to this configuration, the skill of the mechanic isdetermined by considering not only the actual operation time but alsothe history of training attendances and the years of experience. Thus,the skill value given to the mechanic becomes further universal.

Also, in this mechanic skill managing system, the processor (10) furtherdetermines whether a requested check/repair of a vehicle is acceptableor not, based on the skill value of the mechanic registered in thesecond database (12). According to this configuration, it is possible toimprove the accuracy of the decision of acceptance/rejection with regardto the check/repair of the vehicle.

Moreover, in this mechanic skill managing system, the processor (10)further determines compensation for work of the mechanic, based on theskill value of the mechanic registered in the second database (12).According to this configuration, it is possible to fairly evaluate themechanic and thereby pay the reward to the mechanic. Thus, it ispossible to increase the aspiration and motivation of the mechanic.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mechanic skillmanaging system according to a best mode for carrying out the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart describing an operation of the mechanic skillmanaging system according to a best mode for carrying out the presentinvention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A mechanic skill managing system according to a best mode for carryingout the present invention, will be described below in detail withreference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of themechanic skill managing system according to the best mode for carryingout the present invention. This mechanic skill managing system includesa processor 10, and a first database 11, a second database 12 and aterminal device 13, which are connected to the processor 10.

The processor 10 is composed of an information processor such as apersonal computer, a workstation or a general-purpose computer. Inresponse to a command from the terminal device 13, this processor 10carries out various operations on the basis of data stored in the firstdatabase 11 and the second database 12. The detail of the operationswhich this processor 10 carries out will be described later.

The first database 11 can be built on a disc device, for example. Thisfirst database 11 stores an average operation time (FRT: Flat Rate Time)for each of vehicle check items (kinds), the FRT being a time requiredfor a mechanic having an average skill to complete the check. Also, thisaverage operation time means a time necessary for carrying out a checkand a repair to the extent that a predetermined quality standard for thecheck and the repair is fulfilled. This first database 11 stores about60,000 kinds of the items as the check items. Thus, the averageoperation time of the mechanic, namely, a skill value of the mechaniccan be specified for each check item in detail. Hence, it is possible tocalculate precisely the time necessary for the check.

This first database 11 is prepared for each vehicle model. Therefore,every time a new vehicle type is developed and a vehicle model ischanged, a first database 11 is prepared and used for the check of thatvehicle. It should be noted that the skill value of the mechanic havingthe average skill varies according to country and area. In this case, avalue obtained by multiplying the average operation time stored in thefirst database 11 by a predetermined coefficient can be used so as tocope with the actual situations of the respective countries and areas.

The second database 12 can be built on a disc device, for example. Thissecond database 12 stores skill information composed of a plurality ofskill values, respective of which indicate skills of a plurality ofmechanics. More specifically, the second database 12 stores the contentsof skill of each mechanic such as history of training attendances, yearsof experience, hours of actual operations, contents of previouslyexperienced checks (repairs) and the like, and also stores the skillvalues obtained by converting such contents into numerals in accordancewith a predetermined rule.

The terminal device 13 is composed of, for example, a keyboard and amonitor device. This terminal device 13 is used for entering informationto the processor 10 and displaying results of the operations in theprocessor 10.

Next, operations of the mechanic skill managing system in theabove-mentioned configuration according to the best mode for carryingout the present invention will be described below with reference to aflowchart shown in FIG. 2.

In this mechanic skill managing system, registration of the averageoperation time is firstly carried out (Steps S10 to S12). Next,registration of the skill value is carried out (Steps S13 to S16). Afterthat, various operations are carried out based on the registered skillvalue (Step S17).

In the steps of the registration of the average operation time, theaverage operation time is calculated and registered in the firstdatabase 11. More specifically, first of all, n mechanics (n is aninteger equal to or greater than 3) actually perform a checking work fora predetermined check item and measure a checking time. Then, themeasured checking times (the actual operation time from the start to theend of the checking operation) for the n mechanics are inputted to theprocessor 10 through the terminal device 13 (Step S10). The actualoperation time mentioned above means a time necessary for carrying out acheck and a repair to the extent that a predetermined quality standardfor the check and the repair is fulfilled.

Next, the processor 10 calculates the average operation time (Step S11).Calculated in this operation is the average of the checking times of the(n−2) mechanics, in which the checking times of the mechanic spendingthe longest time for the checking work and the mechanic spending theshortest time for the checking work are excluded from the calculation(the excluded checking times are referred to as “Peculiar Time”).

Next, the processor 10 registers the average value calculated at theabove-mentioned Step S11 in the first database 11 as the averageoperation time (Step S12). The steps S10 to S12 are carried out for allthe check items of about 60,000 kinds, the illustration of which isomitted in FIG. 2. Consequently, the first database 11 is completed.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned n can be about “10”. In thiscase, calculated in the calculation step of the average operation timeis the average value of the checking times of 8 mechanics without thepeculiar time. Also, in the calculation of the average operation time,the peculiar time can include the checking times of the two mechanicsspending the longest time and the second longest time for the checkingwork, and the checking times of the two mechanics spending the shortesttime and the second shortest time for the checking work. In this case,the average value of the checking times of the six mechanics iscalculated.

In the steps of the registration of the skill value, the skill value ofeach mechanic is calculated and registered in the second database 12.More specifically, first of all, one mechanic actually performs achecking work for a predetermined check item and measures a checkingtime. Then, the measured checking time is inputted to the processor 10through the terminal device 13 (Step S13). Next, the average operationtime of the above-mentioned predetermined check item is read out fromthe first database 11 (Step S14).

Next, the processor 10 calculates the skill value (Step S15). Morespecifically, the processor 10 calculates difference between the actualchecking time inputted at the Step S13 and the average operation timeread out at the Step S14. Then, the calculated skill values areclassified into, for example, four ranks, depending on the value of thecalculated difference. It should be noted that a ratio of the actualchecking time inputted at the Step S13 to the average operation timeread out at the Step S14 can be used in this calculation of the skillvalue. In this case, the calculated skill values are classified into,for example, four ranks depending on the value of this calculated ratio.

Next, the processor 10 registers the rank classified at the Step S15 inthe second database 12 as the skill value of that mechanic for thatchecking item (Step S16).

The operations in the above-mentioned Steps S13 to S16, in which theskill values are calculated by carrying out the check/repair andmeasuring the checking time, are actually performed on only the typicalcheck/repair items with regard to the major classification such as anengine, a transmission and so on, the illustration of which is omittedin FIG. 2. The skill values for the other check/repair items arecalculated by deducing from the above-mentioned actual result. The usageof such a method makes it possible to calculate the respective skillvalues for the check items of about 60,000 items effectively. Thus, thesecond database 12 for one mechanic is completed.

It should be noted that the registration of the skill values in thesecond database 12 is carried out all at once in the above description.However, it is also possible to update the contents of the seconddatabase 12 every time a mechanic actually carries out check/repair bymeasuring the time required for that check/repair and calculating askill value on the basis of the measured time as a new skill value forthe check item associated with that check/repair. According to thismethod, the skill values stored in the second database 12 are changed tothe latest skill values in accordance with the skill-up of themechanics. Also, the deduced skill values are changed to the actualskill values. Thus, it is possible to always grasp the accurate skillvalues of the mechanics.

After the first database 11 and the second database 12 are completed asmentioned above, various operations using the skill values registered inthe second database 12 are carried out as described below (Step S17).

As an example, the various operations include a check reservationoperation for determining whether a requested check of a vehicle isacceptable or not. In this case, when the desired delivery date withregard to a reservation is near and it is necessary to judge whether ornot the requested check of a vehicle can be fit in the maintenanceschedule of the maintenance shop, for example, it is possible to assigna mechanic having a high skill value to the requested check by searchingthe second database 12. According to this method, it is possible toimprove the accuracy of the decision of acceptance/rejection with regardto the check of the vehicle. It is also possible to carry out the checkin the short period to fulfill the requirement of the client.

As another example, the above-mentioned various operations include anoperation for evaluating a mechanic. In this case, compensation for workof a mechanic can be determined on the basis of the skill value.According to this method, it is possible to fairly evaluate the mechanicand pay the reward to the mechanic. Thus, it is possible to increase theaspiration and motivation of the mechanic.

Moreover, as still another example, the above-mentioned variousoperations include an operation for equalizing the mechanics betweenaffiliated dealers.

As described above, according to the mechanic skill managing system inthe best mode for carrying out the present invention, a skill value of amechanic is calculated on the basis of the difference or the ratiobetween the average operation time and the actual operation time spentby the mechanic to actually carry out the check/repair, and thecalculated skill value is registered in the second database. Thus, it ispossible to accurately grasp the skills of the mechanics.

It should be noted that although the mechanic skill managing system,according to the best mode for carrying out the present invention, isdesigned such that the skill value is determined on the basis of thedifference or the ratio between the average operation time and theactual operation time spent by the mechanic, it can be designed suchthat history of the training attendances and years of experience of themechanic are further registered in the second database 12, and the skillvalue is calculated by taking them into consideration at theabove-mentioned Step S15. According to this method, the skill valuegiven to the mechanic becomes further universal.

Moreover, the contents of the second database 12 can be configured to beupdated periodically. According to this configuration, the skill valuereflecting the effect of self-training can be given to the mechanic.Thus, it is possible not only to fairly evaluate the mechanic but alsoto increase aspiration and motivation of the mechanic.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above in detail, according to the mechanic skill managingsystem of the present invention, the skill of the mechanic can begrasped accurately and can be applied to various operations.

1. A mechanic skill managing system comprising: a first database storingan average operation time for every kind of check/repair, said averageoperation time being a time required for an average mechanic having anaverage skill to complete said check/repair; a second database storing askill value indicative of skill of a mechanic; and a processorcalculating said skill value of said mechanic based on a difference or aratio between said average operation time stored in said first databaseand an actual operation time spent by said mechanic to actually completesaid check/repair, and registering said skill value in said seconddatabase.
 2. The mechanic skill managing system according to claim 1,wherein said average operation time stored in said first database iscalculated by averaging a plurality of times spent by a plurality ofmechanics to actually complete said check/repair, except a peculiartime.
 3. The mechanic skill managing system according to claim 1,wherein said second database further comprises information indicative ofhistory of training attendances and years of experience, and said skillvalue of said mechanic is calculated in said processor based on saiddifference or said ratio, and said information indicative of saidhistory of training attendances and said years of experience stored insaid second database.
 4. The mechanic skill managing system according toclaim 2, wherein said second database further comprises informationindicative of history of training attendances and years of experience,and said skill value of said mechanic is calculated in said processorbased on said difference or said ratio, and said information indicativeof said history of training attendances and said years of experiencestored in said second database.
 5. The mechanic skill managing systemaccording to claim 1, wherein said processor further determines whethera requested check/repair of a vehicle is acceptable or not, based onsaid skill value of said mechanic registered in said second database. 6.The mechanic skill managing system according to claim 2, wherein saidprocessor further determines whether a requested check/repair of avehicle is acceptable or not, based on said skill value of said mechanicregistered in said second database.
 7. The mechanic skill managingsystem according to claim 3, wherein said processor further determineswhether a requested check/repair of a vehicle is acceptable or not,based on said skill value of said mechanic registered in said seconddatabase.
 8. The mechanic skill managing system according to claim 4,wherein said processor further determines whether a requestedcheck/repair of a vehicle is acceptable or not, based on said skillvalue of said mechanic registered in said second database.
 9. Themechanic skill managing system according to claim 1, wherein saidprocessor further determines compensation for work of said mechanic,based on said skill value of said mechanic registered in said seconddatabase.
 10. The mechanic skill managing system according to claim 2,wherein said processor further determines compensation for work of saidmechanic, based on said skill value of said mechanic registered in saidsecond database.
 11. The mechanic skill managing system according toclaim 3, wherein said processor further determines compensation for workof said mechanic, based on said skill value of said mechanic registeredin said second database.
 12. The mechanic skill managing systemaccording to claim 4, wherein said processor further determinescompensation for work of said mechanic, based on said skill value ofsaid mechanic registered in said second database.
 13. The mechanic skillmanaging system according to claim 5, wherein said processor furtherdetermines compensation for work of said mechanic, based on said skillvalue of said mechanic registered in said second database.
 14. Themechanic skill managing system according to claim 6, wherein saidprocessor further determines compensation for work of said mechanic,based on said skill value of said mechanic registered in said seconddatabase.
 15. The mechanic skill managing system according to claim 7,wherein said processor further determines compensation for work of saidmechanic, based on said skill value of said mechanic registered in saidsecond database.
 16. The mechanic skill managing system according toclaim 8, wherein said processor further determines compensation for workof said mechanic, based on said skill value of said mechanic registeredin said second database.